Often there is no book or course to learn how to do what you want to do – so how artists and creatives overcome such challenges? How have some of the most talented artists and creatives in the community managed to learn their craft?
Amelia Kaiser
I am lucky to have a mom who is highly creative. She shared basic artistic concepts with me (including color theory, perspective, and more) at an early age. Initially, my art was born from following my natural curiosity and playing with different materials. I then moved to formal instruction in middle school through university. Read More>>
Eva
I learned how to take photos and use a camera by taking photos and using a camera. I know it sounds silly but you won’t learn until you try a hundred times and fail most of them. Surrounding yourself with professionals or even people who inspire you to create is where gold is found. Start assisting on shoots, ask for help, serve at your local church, take photos of your friends, and just go out and do whatever it is you’re trying to learn/become better at/make a living doing. Read More>>
Skyler Martin
Growing up, I found myself doodling on computer paper and creating projects that incorporated mixed media components. I have distinct memories of drawing with family members at the kitchen table of my childhood house and viewing artwork in various settings (in-person and online). Read More>>
Benjamin Ford
I’ve spent my time reading a number of different genres, taking time to maybe even practice writing them to see where I fit best. Me being someone who wants to move from writing poetry to writing books, tv shows, and movies there are always a lot of things to factor in. Small task can sometimes become big task, looking into stories to try to keep ideas original as possible. Read More>>
Rudy Diaz
I learned to do what I do from my grandma, my mom, and a lot of youtube videos. Also a lot of trial and error.
A lot of it was experimenting with different recipes and trying new techniques. I went on a French Macaron kick one year and I think I baked over 50 batches of macarons. It was through this that I slowly learned that baking is a science. Read More>>
Wes Meadows
I think learning the craft is different for everyone, and that’s part of what makes creation special. Whether you start off with a little tape player and a borrowed instrument or you’re lucky enough to have access to quality gear, the way you learn, and the amount of time and effort you put into it, will craft the defining qualities of your work. Read More>>
LaSheena V. Gordon
In her journey to becoming a confident singer and music teacher, LaSheena has been guided by a diverse group of mentors who have shaped her musical education. From instructors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and various community colleges to professionals from prestigious Read More>>
Felipe Wurst
It’s been a mix of approaches, but the overall journey tends to follow a similar pattern: I get excited about learning something new, then I dig into it and realize—wow—there’s so much more to learn. That moment can feel exciting, overwhelming, or both. Eventually, I start noticing concepts or techniques that go over my head. Read More>>
Rachel Cohen
My mother told me that when she was pregnant with me, she kept taking dance class until she was so big that other people got nervous…so, I started dancing from a pretty early age. I followed my older siblings into dance class and a little bit of theater, though I was pretty haphazard about training. I watched old musicals, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse and Eleanor Powell, read Dance Magazine, talked about dance, choreographed solos in my bedroom, and badly thought I wanted to be a dancer. Read More>>
Zach McCormick
I am self-taught as a photographer, which meant working through my own mistakes until I finally became happy with my own work. I tend to look more towards film cinematography than toward other photographers. I suppose if I could go back, would go down more of a movie-making route than a still photo one – but I just try to apply that aesthetic to my photo work. I am self-taught as a photographer, which meant working through my own mistakes until I finally became happy with my own work. I tend to look more towards film cinematography than toward other photographers. I suppose if I could go back, would go down more of a movie-making route than a still photo one – but I just try to apply that aesthetic to my photo work. Read More>>
Oluwatobi Adewumi
Through years of hands-on practice, observing life, and studying other artists. Migration shaped my vision—teaching me to express identity, resilience, and belonging through layered narratives. Read More>>
Jordan Ros
I’ve learned most of what I do on my own. By experimenting and making art. I’m a filmmaker. And most people assume that making a movie takes a whole lot of resources and people. This can be true. In fact, it’s true for most Hollywood productions. But the kind of movies I make are very different. It’s a style of filmmaking that I’ve developed because of my circumstances. I never waited for permission. Read More>>
Sammi Kaye Nystrom
My cosplay journey came naturally to me, because I had already been sewing for many years before I took up the hobby. I was very young (around 6 years old) when my mother first taught me how to hand sew with needle and thread. Every year we would design and make Halloween costumes together, and I spent a lot of time learning how to do basic stitching and mending. Read More>>
Faery Jones
I started working in the wedding industry when I was 18, as a cater waiter. At the time, I was in an extremely abusive relationship. One day, I showed up to work with a busted lip and a black eye. The owner of the company saw me and took me under her wing. She taught me the ins and outs of the event world, and in many ways, saved my life. Read More>>
Dameon Knight
I entered into the world of narration and voice acting not by way of any previous acting experience. In fact, I do not have any background in the acting space. Was I interested in them? Oh for sure, but my focus growing up as a child and young adult was mostly in the sciences and technology. I think this interest in tech also plays a strong part in my ability to effectively and quickly use the technology during post-production efforts. Read More>>
Tobin Caldwell
I have spent most my life learning the nuances of photography. Both of my parents graduated from Pasadena Art Center, which allowed me to essentially gain a college education in photography for free.
The interesting thing however, is that both my parents being photographers isn’t what got me into photography. Yes, it most certainly didn’t hurt the process, them both being photographically inclined; Read More>>
Cierra Cox
I started learning to DJ in a pretty unexpected way. I’ve always been into music and would constantly download music-related apps just to mess around. One day I came across DJay Pro on my phone. I thought I was signing up for a free trial, but accidentally paid for a full year—almost $60. Read More>>
Anwen Borgo
I’ll start with a story.
While studying Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music, I once spent days pouring my soul into a two-minute and thirty-second cue. I shaped every note, every texture, obsessing over every frame. When I finally brought it to class, completely spent, I played it for my film composition teacher. After it ended, he just nodded and asked, “Well… does it work?” Read More>>
Gio Randazzo
I’ve learned everything I know about filmmaking through a mix of hands-on experience, trial and error, and staying relentlessly curious. With She Follows, my most recent film, I pushed myself to a new level creatively and emotionally. It was deeply personal, inspired by a real ghost encounter, and that made every choice—every scene, every line of dialogue— Read More>>
Gregory Grosvenor
In the arts, and especially for me as a writer, the process of learning seems the opposite than in the sciences. In the sciences, you start with technique and then, through a series of successes, gain confidence. Read More>>
DJ 3rd Degree
Growing up I was always listening to music. Whether it was my Mom’s music or my Dad’s (divorced parents living in separate places), music has always been in my universe. When I was around 9 and had moved to Los Angeles from Philadelphia, PA, I started finding music I liked. Kiss was like the first band I graviated to. Not sure why. Read More>>
Keith Allen Davis, Jr.
After years of showing interest in acting and directing, I began receiving acting training in high school. I earned my B.A. in Theatre Performance at Alabama State University, worked an acting apprenticeship contract at New Stage Theatre, and am now pursuing my MFA in Acting at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Read More>>